Vandeweghe rides the New York wave into first US Open quarterfinal

NEW YORK—American women are certainly making a statement at the US Open. For the first time since 2004, three have advanced to the quarterfinals, including CoCo Vandeweghe, who beat Lucie Safarova, 6-4, 7-6 (2), on Monday. No one loves to make a statement more than Vandeweghe.

“I think the other Americans have always been doing well with or without Serena. I think Serena's a very hard person to catch in what she's been doing,” Vandeweghe said. “But I think we've been progressing. I think the girls all around my age have been moving up through the rankings, doing better in Grand Slams.”

Vandeweghe has been making steady progress throughout her career. Just two years ago, reaching the second week of a major would have been considered a great effort. These days, expectations are higher for the world No. 22. Losing in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon earlier this summer was actually disappointing.

Life hasn't changed that much. I think I'm pretty much the same individual," Vandeweghe said. " I think [my Top 20 ranking] only helps me in tournaments where I'm seeded instead of having to maybe play a top seed in the first round."

That’s good news, though, because it means she has officially become a Grand Slam contender. Now comfortably near the front of a pack of talented mid-20s Americans in the Top 100, a lot has changed in the Californian’s career, but she hasn’t changed at all as a person.

“I’m not any better or different, or anything like that. I still have terrible spelling and won’t go fix my phone because I’m cheap,” she said after her semifinal run at the Australian Open. “Never change.”

You can still count on the 25-year-old to produce a witty quip during her post-match interviews and crack a joke with her friends in the player lounge—Safarova used the term “dry humor” to describe Vandeweghe’s personality.

Vandeweghe is actually quite like any other twentysomething these days—very active on social media, eager to spend a day off on a beach and just as content spending a night in binging on reality TV as she is planning a night out with friends. And no, I’m not fangirling; I’ve just known her for years.

Her fame has increased with her appearances on the biggest stages in the sport. Fame can change a person—there’s obviously truth in that—but there’s a genuine realness to Vandeweghe, and that’s a rarity that tennis fans should appreciate.

“I think my biggest goal is to develop as a person, a person that my family can be proud of, and also someone that I can be proud of at the end of the day,” she said. “As long as I'm moving in the right direction there for myself, I'll be happy.”

It’s no secret that sometimes her honesty can get her into trouble—she may even, on occasion, be mistaken for arrogant in the public eye. But the New York crowd seems to dig it, and is falling more and more in love with her with each match she powers through.

Playing mixed doubles on Court 10 with Horia Tecau on Sunday night, a huge crowd swarmed, filling up the small stands to capacity, presumably just to get a glimpse of the American. Tecau and Vandeweghe delivered a good show, ousting doubles experts Chan Yung-jan and Nenad Zimonjic in straight sets.

The increased attention is also good news, as Vandeweghe feeds off high energy and there’s no better place than Arthur Ashe Stadium to feel a crowd’s buzz. Technically, she’s a born New Yorker, having lived on Long Island before moving west.

“To be out there on Ashe and feel the energy, the vibe of it, was a lot of fun,” she said after her first match inside the stadium. “I had fun out there playing, competing. I think it definitely showed to everyone.”

Yet somehow, in 10 previous appearances at the US Open before this fortnight, she had never gone beyond the second round. And until now, her grandfather, Ernie—who played seven seasons with the NBA’s New York Knicks—may have been the more famous Vandeweghe, especially in New York.

Everywhere Vandeweghe goes there’s mention of her athletically successful family tree. Her uncle, Kiki, was even interviewed courtside, mid-match, by ESPN’s Pam Shriver. But this isn’t about them—it’s about CoCo Vandeweghe.

“My grandfather always said he was the best athlete in the family, so we’re all trying to live up to him,” Vandeweghe said. “I’m happy to have more friends and family out here to cheer me on and push me forward because I’m trying to catch up to my grandfather.”

Vandeweghe will get to keep chasing that goal when she seeks a spot in the US Open semifinals against top seed Karolina Pliskova.